four years ago today a very turbulent ride began for my family and i. my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. the process of her treatment and healing dramatically changed my life forever. the hardest day of my life was the day of her mastectomy when my father called me in Massachusetts to tell me that the doctors had found cancer in eleven of her lymph nodes. throughout her recovery from surgery, chemotherapy and radiation, i prayed that the Lord would do something amazing. And, He did. He healed her...and, in His mercy, He healed me. He used evil for good drawing us closer and closer to His side.
Day 2: So, today I celebrate my mother's life in a special way. I am so very thankful to be able to continue to share life with her.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Monday, November 1, 2010
and in honor of day 1...
Beautiful Things
All this pain
I wonder if I’ll ever find my way
I wonder if my life could really change at all
All this earth
Could all that is lost ever be found
Could a garden come up from this ground at all
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of the dust
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of us
All around
Hope is springing up from this old ground
Out of chaos life is being found in You
You make me new, You are making me new
All this pain
I wonder if I’ll ever find my way
I wonder if my life could really change at all
All this earth
Could all that is lost ever be found
Could a garden come up from this ground at all
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of the dust
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of us
All around
Hope is springing up from this old ground
Out of chaos life is being found in You
You make me new, You are making me new
day 1
a friend of mine challenged her friends to give thanks for something every day of november. after thinking about it for some time, i realized the exercise was challenging me to consider the many blessings around me. so, here i go on the journey toward thanksgiving.
Day 1: today i am especially thankful for a few dear friends who like God are more concerned about my character than about my comfort. i am thankful for their words that sharpen me and their presence walking with me as i struggle to become more and more holy. and, i'm thankful they see promise in me and believe in me even when i don't. i'm better off having known them...
Day 1: today i am especially thankful for a few dear friends who like God are more concerned about my character than about my comfort. i am thankful for their words that sharpen me and their presence walking with me as i struggle to become more and more holy. and, i'm thankful they see promise in me and believe in me even when i don't. i'm better off having known them...
Sunday, October 31, 2010
washed and waiting: a recommendation
at the recommendation of a good friend of mine, i've been reading the book Washed and Waiting. Wesley Hill does a fantastic job telling his story and sharing his reflections on Christian faithfulness and homosexuality. i'll be honest, when i started reading the book i was a little hesitant about using my time to learn more about and dig deeper into the homosexuality debate as there are a lot of books about what's right and what's not, and they are often written in a tone that lacks humility. however, Hill is far from having hubris. his humble presentation of his thoughts was gripping, and his story is a powerful testimony for all of us -- not just those who struggle with homosexuality or are struggling through their theology regarding this hotly debated topic. his honest candor about the role of sin in his life was refreshing and provided encouragement to continue on as a Christian seeking after sanctifying growth and awaiting that day when glorification will be known. i'm thankful the book landed in my hands, and i'd encourage you to check it out, too.
a few quotes to chew on until you pick up the book....
"Engaging with God and entering the transformative life of the church does not mean we get a kind of 'free pass,' an unconditional love that leaves us where we are. Instead, we get a fiercely demanding love, a divine love that will never let us escape from its purifying, renovating, and ultimately healing grip" (68).
"Though it sounds politically incorrect to modern ears, the gospel has always said that God may demand from us what he wants, since we do not belong to ourselves" (69).
"One of the hardest-to-swallow, most countercultural, counterintuitive implications of the gospel is that bearing up under a difficult burden with patient perseverance is a good thing" (71).
"I have come to realize my need to take the New Testament witness seriously that groaning and grief and feeling broken are legitimate ways for me to express my cross-bearing discipleship to Jesus. It's not as if groaning means I am somehow doing something wrong. Groaning is a sign of my fidelity" (119).
"The Bible calls the Christian struggle against sin faith (Hebrews 12:3-4; 10:37-19). It calls the Christian fight against impure cravings holiness (Romans 6:12-13, 22). So I am trying to appropriate these biblical descriptions for myself. I am learning to look at my daily wrestling with disordered desires and call it trust. I am learning to look at my battle to keep from giving in to my temptations and call it sanctification. I am learning to see that my flawed, imperfect, yet never-giving-up faithfulness is precisely the spiritual fruit that God will praise me for on the last day, to ultimate honor of Jesus Christ" (146).
a few quotes to chew on until you pick up the book....
"Engaging with God and entering the transformative life of the church does not mean we get a kind of 'free pass,' an unconditional love that leaves us where we are. Instead, we get a fiercely demanding love, a divine love that will never let us escape from its purifying, renovating, and ultimately healing grip" (68).
"Though it sounds politically incorrect to modern ears, the gospel has always said that God may demand from us what he wants, since we do not belong to ourselves" (69).
"One of the hardest-to-swallow, most countercultural, counterintuitive implications of the gospel is that bearing up under a difficult burden with patient perseverance is a good thing" (71).
"I have come to realize my need to take the New Testament witness seriously that groaning and grief and feeling broken are legitimate ways for me to express my cross-bearing discipleship to Jesus. It's not as if groaning means I am somehow doing something wrong. Groaning is a sign of my fidelity" (119).
"The Bible calls the Christian struggle against sin faith (Hebrews 12:3-4; 10:37-19). It calls the Christian fight against impure cravings holiness (Romans 6:12-13, 22). So I am trying to appropriate these biblical descriptions for myself. I am learning to look at my daily wrestling with disordered desires and call it trust. I am learning to look at my battle to keep from giving in to my temptations and call it sanctification. I am learning to see that my flawed, imperfect, yet never-giving-up faithfulness is precisely the spiritual fruit that God will praise me for on the last day, to ultimate honor of Jesus Christ" (146).
Sunday, October 24, 2010
moments unrehearsed
ok. i'm finally doing it. i'm starting my photography business. here are a few from this past week:
[slideshow]
for now, find me on facebook -- moments unrehearsed: photography by julia dahlke
[slideshow]
for now, find me on facebook -- moments unrehearsed: photography by julia dahlke
mad.
today i'm mad at the Church. not proud of it. but, it feels good to have it out in the open.
maybe it's because i've been cleaning and sorting and organizing this weekend which naturally brings up a lot of memories. or maybe it is this dreary fall weather. maybe it's another sunday morning of unfamiliarity. whatever it is, it is.
the sad part is i know i'm not alone.
one thing i am very, very thankful for is that my God is not the Church. my God works through the Church, but is not the Church. and, my God, He loves the Church and chose to accomplish His purposes through this broken vessel filled with His sinner-saint children. so, i guess if it is good enough for Him, it really should be good enough for me. but, i'll be honest, today it's not.
oh Holy Father, restore in me a love for your ecclesia, your body, your fellowship, your Church. help me to love not only the idea, but the reality of not-yet-fully restored people. help me to love the bumps and bruises as much as the beauty of it. and, then, Lord, help me to serve there...loving with abandon. using my gifts in freedom. enjoying your children -- who you have redeemed and loved. oh, Lord, help me to love. -Amen (let it be so.)
oh Holy Father, restore in us, all of your children, a love for your ecclesia, your body, your fellowship, your Church. help us, all of your children, to love not only the idea, but the reality of not-yet-fully restored people. help us, all of your children, to love the bumps and bruises as much as the beauty of it. and, then, Lord, help us, all of your children, to serve there...loving with abandon. using our gifts in freedom. enjoying each other, your children -- who you have redeemed and loved. oh, Lord, help us, all of your children, to love. -Amen (let it be so.)
maybe it's because i've been cleaning and sorting and organizing this weekend which naturally brings up a lot of memories. or maybe it is this dreary fall weather. maybe it's another sunday morning of unfamiliarity. whatever it is, it is.
the sad part is i know i'm not alone.
one thing i am very, very thankful for is that my God is not the Church. my God works through the Church, but is not the Church. and, my God, He loves the Church and chose to accomplish His purposes through this broken vessel filled with His sinner-saint children. so, i guess if it is good enough for Him, it really should be good enough for me. but, i'll be honest, today it's not.
oh Holy Father, restore in me a love for your ecclesia, your body, your fellowship, your Church. help me to love not only the idea, but the reality of not-yet-fully restored people. help me to love the bumps and bruises as much as the beauty of it. and, then, Lord, help me to serve there...loving with abandon. using my gifts in freedom. enjoying your children -- who you have redeemed and loved. oh, Lord, help me to love. -Amen (let it be so.)
oh Holy Father, restore in us, all of your children, a love for your ecclesia, your body, your fellowship, your Church. help us, all of your children, to love not only the idea, but the reality of not-yet-fully restored people. help us, all of your children, to love the bumps and bruises as much as the beauty of it. and, then, Lord, help us, all of your children, to serve there...loving with abandon. using our gifts in freedom. enjoying each other, your children -- who you have redeemed and loved. oh, Lord, help us, all of your children, to love. -Amen (let it be so.)
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
After giving myself antlers,
making funny air noises with my mouth and experimenting with a variety of other facial expressions, I've realized something. I will do many crazy things to get a belly-laugh from the little lady I babysit. I wonder how many other feats I should be doing crazy things to achieve...
making funny air noises with my mouth and experimenting with a variety of other facial expressions, I've realized something. I will do many crazy things to get a belly-laugh from the little lady I babysit. I wonder how many other feats I should be doing crazy things to achieve...
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